Kate in labor as world waits: palace

Prince William's wife Kate has gone into labor and been admitted to St. Mary's Hospital in west London, for the birth of the couple's first child, who will be third in line to the British throne, his office said on Monday.

After weeks of feverish media speculation over the arrival of the royal baby, Kate, 31, was taken on Monday afternoon to the private wing of the Paddington hospital where William himself was born in 1982.

"The duchess traveled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing at St. Mary's Hospital with the Duke of Cambridge," Kensington Palace said in a statement. "Things are progressing as normal. It wasn't an emergency."

Royal sources have said Kate has planned a natural birth with William, a Royal Air Force search and rescue helicopter pilot, to be at her side.

The sex of the baby, who will be third in line to the throne behind grandfather Prince Charles and father William, is unknown as the royal couple want it to be a surprise. Bookmakers have a girl as the firm favorite.

Newspapers have speculated Kate's sister, Pippa, and mother, Carole Middleton, might be present at the birth and Queen Elizabeth will be among the first to be informed of the arrival.

The baby will be delivered by Marcus Setchell, the queen's former gynecologist.

Kate, who needed hospital treatment after suffering acute morning sickness in the early part of the pregnancy, made her last public appearance on June 15 at the "Trooping the Colour", a military ceremony to mark Queen Elizabeth's official birthday.

The BBC reported she entered the hospital though a back door and avoided the crowd of media from around the world who have camped outside the hospital since July 1.

The Lindo Wing, where maternity rooms cost from 5,000 pounds ($7,800) for a one-night stay, is where the late Princess Diana gave birth to William and to his younger brother Harry, who will drop a place in the line of succession after the arrival.

Traditional way

The birth will be announced in the traditional way, with an envelope containing notice of the baby's details taken from the hospital to the queen's London residence, Buckingham Palace, where the news will be posted on a board outside the main gates.

"It's a lovely idea they are going to have an envelope rushed over to Buckingham Palace and the figure crossing the forecourt with the easel and putting up the announcement," said royal historian Hugo Vickers.

"I think that's absolutely great, it's rather theatrical. I think we'll all enjoy that hugely."

While the baby's sex is not known, there has been much conjecture that the child will be a girl after the duchess accepted a teddy from a well-wisher in March saying: "Thank you, I'll take this for my d ..."

Whether a boy or a girl, the baby is destined to one day be monarch after Britain and other Commonwealth countries that have the queen as their monarch agreed to change the rules of royal succession so males no longer have precedence as heir.

Royal officials have confirmed the baby will be known as His or Her Highness Prince or Princess (name) of Cambridge. Since William and Kate's wedding in April 2011, the couple has officially been known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Reuters-AFP

(China Daily 07/23/2013 page12)